Seeing Blind Men

"One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"
- John 9:25b (NIV)

Controversy regularly surrounds Jesus. This was the case when He lived, and it is still the case today. After reading John 9 I began to wonder how controversial could it be that a man who was born blind was made to see?

The religious people gathered to examine the evidence and to interview witnesses. Though it appears that they were trying to get to the truth, a closer examination reveals that they were not investigating at all. For the very nature of investigation is a pursuit of the truth. When people have already closed their minds to the truth there is no need for investigation - for there is no concern for the truth. This is clearly the case in John 9:22b: for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.

How could it be that two groups of people could look at the very same event (the healing of a blind man) and come up with the exact opposite conclusion?

Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.
- John 9:16

Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."
- John 9:39

Conversion is nothing less than men, blind from birth, receiving the gift of sight.


Blind?

Which eyes are more blind?
The eyes which cannot behold the sun and the stars,
Or those which cannot behold Your glory?

The eyes that cannot see all the beauty of creation,
Or those that cannot see that You have created it?

Which eyes are more blind?
The eyes that will never look upon a father’s face,
Or those that will never look upon You as Father?

The eyes which cannot see a loved one,
Or those which cannot see how much we are loved by you?

Which eyes are more blind?
The eyes which cannot see to read,
Or those which cannot see that You are the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us?

The eyes that cannot see fresh bread, hot from the oven,
Or those that cannot see that man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord?

Which eyes are more blind?
The eyes that do not see to find the way,
Or those that do not see that you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

The eyes which will never see the beauty of many pearls,
Or those which will never see that You are the pearl of greatest price?


A. B. Seal
02-11-06
Poem written during a mission trip to Honduras with Vision Outreach International